After being stabbed with an ancient, germ-infested knife, a doctor's assistant finds himself with an insatiable desire for blood. This was the acting debut of Richard Lawson. "[11] In Films & Filming, a reviewer referred to the film as "totally unconvincing on every level". Thomas then calls ahead to the morgue, and alerts Sam (Elisha Cook, Jr.), the attendant there, to take the cabbie Juanita Jones' body out of deep freeze and to leave the room and lock the door behind him. “Blacula” is more about empowerment than exploitation. A brilliant surgeon is able to attach new limbs but his jealous assistant switches the DNA injections, transforming him into a gigantic killer. A sequel to the film titled Scream Blacula Scream was released in 1973 by American International. Blacula (1972) Summary In 1780, Prince Mamuwalde (William Marshall) is sent by the elders of the Abani African nation to seek the help of Count Dracula (Charles Macaulay) in suppressing the slave trade. He's intelligent, cultured and, unlike Dracula, has a deep sense of honour and love - as evidenced in his eventual demise. Blacula [7] Blacula was popular in America, debuting at #24 on Variety's list of top films. [14] Time Out gave the film a negative review, stating that it "remains a lifeless reworking of heroes versus vampires with soul music and a couple of good gags. and that apart from the introductory scene, "the film conspicuously fails to pick up on any of its theme's more interesting possibilities–cinematic or philosophical. After a scuffle with Dracula's minions, Mamuwalde is bitten by Dracula and transformed into a vampire. Two hundred years later, a pair of interior decorators transport his coffin to L.A. where he awakes with an unquenchable thirst for human blood. Dracula, instead, laughs at this request and insults Mamuwalde by making thinly veiled overtures about enslaving his wife, Luva (Vonetta McGee). "[16] Allmovie gave the film two and a half stars out of five, noting that Blacula is "better than its campy title might lead one to believe...the film suffers from the occasional bit of awkward humor (the bits with the two homosexual interior decorators are the most squirm-inducing), but Joan Torres and Raymond Koenig's script keeps things moving at a fast clip and generates some genuine chills. Many members of the cast and crew of Blacula had worked in television. "The Office is about a group of people trying to work together with mutual respect despite the inappropriate actions of their boss and assistant manager," executive producer Greg … Menu. Details: 1972, USA, Cert 18, 93 mins Direction: William Crane Summary: Blaxploitation send-up of the vampire genre, with William Marshall the prince-turned-bloodsucker. [5] The film's soundtrack features a score by Gene Page and contributions by the Hues Corporation and 21st Century Ltd.[6], Blacula opened in Washington, Dallas, Seattle and Oklahoma City on July 26, 1972, and in Chicago two days later. Actress Pam Grier was a 1970s pop culture icon thanks to a string of roles as tough and sexy heroines in such blaxploitation classics as "Coffy" (1973), "Foxy Brown" (1974) and "Sheba, Baby" (1975). Enter Blacula, a 1972 horror film ... Blacula was a top performer at the box office in 1972 and went on to receive the Best Horror Film at the Saturn Awards. So the sequel Scream Blacula Scream was released the next year and the results were not nearly the same. Factory . Blacula is a villain but its through no real fault of his own. Storyline An 18th century African statesman is transformed into a vampire, cursed with the name Blacula, and entombed in Dracula's Castle after he fails to convince the Count to support him in his cause to end the slave trade. Blacula held an overtly political significance compared to its horror counterparts at the time, and it rose as a commercial box office success in 1972. Two hundred years later, a pair of interior decorators transport his coffin to L.A. where he awakes with an unquenchable thirst for human blood. [3] Marshall had previously worked in stage productions and in episodes of The Man from U.N.C.L.E., The Nurses, Bonanza, Star Trek and Mannix. [2] Prior to its release, American International Pictures' marketing department wanted to ensure that black audiences would be interested in Blacula; some posters for the film included references to slavery. [7] The Chicago Reader praised the film, writing that it would leave its audience more satisfied than many other "post-Lugosi efforts". report. It stars William Marshall in the title role about an 18th-century African prince named Mamuwalde, who is turned into a vampire (and later locked in a coffin) by Count Dracula in the Count's castle in Transylvania in the year 1780 after Dracula refused to help Mamuwalde suppress the slave trade. [3] William H. Marshall's Mamuwalde was the first black vampire to appear in film. Over the past few months a number of big Hollywood box office hits have featured black actors such as Denzel Washington (The Equalizer) and Morgan Freeman (Lucy) in leading roles. Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Blacula ! There appears to be 1 scene of The Office in this image. Luva is also imprisoned in the same crypt and left powerless to help Mamuwalde until she finally starves to death. Irrespective of context or time, Blacula represents a moment when independent films pushed for mainstream recognition without thinking of grosses, weekend box office … [18], The box office success of Blacula sparked a wave of other black-themed horror films. The vampire Mamuwalde (Blacula) is stirred by African voodoo, and is forced to kill again. BLACULA (1972)/SCREAM BLACULA, SCREAM (1973) Blu-ray Directors: William Crain, Bob Kelljan Scream Factory/Shout! Title: Released in 1972 to enormous box office success, Blacula is, narratively speaking, a fairly run-of-the-mill vampire movie, basically adhering to the template of the Bram Stoker novel on which it’s riffing. An 18th century African prince is turned into a vampire while visiting Transylvania. An old victim of Count Dracula's bite is loose and stalking the streets of 20th-century Los Angeles. Blacula was an African prince in his previous, non-vampire life, who unfortunately travels to Transylvania. Dr. Thomas, his colleague Police Lt. Jack Peters (Gordon Pinsent), and Michelle spend that night following the trail of murder victims as Thomas begins to suspect a vampire is responsible. The daily routine of cocaine dealer Priest who wants to score one more super deal and retire. The first film is the better of the two - and is, in many ways, a better film than Hammer's final few Dracula flicks. 7/10. Molly Rose Steed, I didn't see Blacula until 2006, 34 years after it was made, and I found it very entertaining. In the early 1970s, the film that was responsible for fusing the horror and blaxploitation genres to box office success was BLACULA. Thomas and Mamuwalde briefly struggle, but Mamuwalde nearly knocks Thomas unconscious and flees, killing a police officer in a nearby alley as he escapes. The film also stars William Marshall in the title role along with actress Pam Grier. It was the first film to receive an award for Best Horror Film at the Saturn Awards. An 18th century African statesman is transformed into a vampire, cursed with the name Blacula, and entombed in Dracula's Castle after he fails to convince the Count to support him in his cause to end the slave trade. The box office success of Blacula sparked a wave of other black-themed horror films. Eddie is a Vietnam veteran who loses his arms and legs when he steps on a land mine. 13 of 13 people found this review helpful. [8], Scream Factory released the film on Blu-ray as a double feature with Scream Blacula Scream on March 2, 2015. [9], Blacula received mixed reviews on its initial release. Dracula then curses him with the name "Blacula" and imprisons him in a sealed coffin in a crypt hidden beneath the castle. A marriage counselor becomes possessed by the demon of sexuality, when her father in law, an exorcist, freed it while in Africa. Dr. Thomas rushes to Tina's apartment, finding them embracing. A scene from “The Office” in which a character appears in blackface has been edited out, Variety has confirmed. View production, box office, & company info. Blacula was the first horror movie to ever win “Best Horror” at the Saturn Awards and created a wave of other black-themed horror films. Dracula, instead, laughs at this request and insults Mamuwalde by making thinly veiled overtures about enslaving his wife, Luva (Vonetta McGee). Find where to to rent and stream the film here. [4] Blacula was shot on location in Los Angeles, with some scenes shot in Watts and the final scenes taken at the Hyperion Outfall Treatment Plant in Playa del Rey. However, Peters kills Tina with a stake, believing that Mamuwalde would be in the coffin instead. Soon after, Dr. Thomas conducts a search of Nancy's house and finds a photo negative of Tina standing in front of the invisible Mamuwalde. Blacula (1972) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. So if you've made it this far without seeing Blacula, I would recommend it even more.Blacula is portrayed as a somewhat sympathetic character, which I like. “‘The Office’ is about a group of people trying to work together with mutual respect despite the inappropriate actions of their boss and assistant manager,” Daniels told the outlet. Shop high-quality unique Blacula T-Shirts designed and sold by artists. It would lead to a whole new genre. They walk into the exam room by the freezer, where Lt. Peters sees a sheet-covered body lying on a gurney and pulls the sheet back to reveal Juanita Jones rising up to attack him. Take a look ahead at some of our most anticipated superhero series arriving in 2021 and beyond. Marshall is a good actor whose performance here raises what could have been mediocre schlock horror into a pretty good movie.A must-see for horror fans and recommended for just about everybody else too. Dracula is not exactly helpful, needless to say. Get a sneak peek of the new version of this page. The lead actor, William Marshall, is really something special and gives the role some authenticity. As Blacula lays the mack down on Tina, the reincarnation of his long deceased wife. Shudder at the fashion choices of the 70's! When her boyfriend is murdered by gangsters, Sugar Hill decides not to get mad, but BAD! Mamuwalde is startled to notice that Tina appears to be the reincarnation of his deceased wife, Luva. Scream Blacula Scream is a 1973 American blaxploitation horror film.It is a sequel to the 1972 film Blacula.The film was produced by American International Pictures (AIP) and Power Productions. "[15] Film4 awarded the film three and a half stars out of five, calling it "essential blaxploitation viewing. The most common blacula material is ceramic. (1972). To save her life, Mamuwalde transforms her into a vampire. She entreats voodoo queen Mama Maitresse to call on Baron Samedi, Lord of the Dead, for help with a ... See full summary ». Release Calendar DVD & Blu-ray Releases Top Rated Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Showtimes & Tickets In Theaters Coming Soon Coming Soon Movie News India Movie Spotlight. [19] American International was also planning a follow-up titled Blackenstein, but chose to focus on Scream Blacula Scream instead. Blacula was released to mixed reviews in the United States, but was one of the top-grossing films of the year. – Dracula’s Soul Brother! After Thomas digs up Billy Schaffer's coffin, Billy's corpse rises as a vampire and attacks Thomas, who fends him off and drives a stake through his heart. He loses her when a cab strikes him while he crosses the street. A black prostitute and a white revolutionary must form an uneasy alliance when they are busted out of prison and are pursued by guerrillas, bounty hunters and the army. [1], The music for Blacula is unlike that of most horror films as it uses rhythm and blues as opposed to haunting classical music. As Mamuwalde proceeds to brutalize many police officers, one of the remaining policemen locates the coffin and alerts Dr. Thomas and Lt. Peters. Dr. Thomas, accompanied by Lt. Peters, arrives at the morgue to find blood smears on the corridor wall near the pay phone where Sam answered the call, but no sign of Sam himself. Dr. Thomas keeps her at bay with a large crucifix long enough to open the window blinds and expose her to the morning sun's rays, which quickly destroy her. Blacula! After reports of seeing Bobby McCoy walking the streets of Los Angeles come in, Thomas, Lt. Peters and several police officers track Mamuwalde to his hideout, the warehouse where Bobby McCoy and Billy Schaffer were first slain. "Scream, Blacula, Scream" is an adequate vampire movie, which is to say that a satisfactory number of vampires spring out of hiding and sink their teeth into helpless victims, and there are abundant shots of vampires with blood drooling down their chins. Chicago citation style: William Crain, Gene Page, and Gene Page. A sequel to the film titled Scream Blacula Scream was released in 1973 by American International. hide. "[10] A review from Roger Greenspun in The New York Times was negative, stating that anyone who "goes to a vampire movie expecting sense is in serious trouble, and "Blacula" offers less sense than most. An 18th century African statesman is transformed into a vampire, cursed with the name Blacula, and entombed in Dracula's Castle after he fails to convince the Count to support him in his cause to end the slave trade. Blacula was in production between late January and late March 1972. Movies. Written by While Dr. Thomas receives a phone call from the funeral director, Mr. Swenson, informing him that Bobby McCoy's body has gone missing, Tina is clearly taken with Mamuwalde, who asks to see her again the following evening, but they are interrupted by Nancy taking a photograph of them together. A sexy black nurse takes vigilante justice against inner-city drug dealers after her sister becomes their latest victim. A couple invites a Count from Hungary, who recently immigrated to America, to conduct a seance for the woman's recently deceased mother, oblivious to the fact that he is actually a vampire. The title character is Mamuwalde (William Marshall), a refined and eloquent African prince who, in the year 1780, visits Count Dracula at his castle as part of a diplomatic mission to end the slave trade. Mamuwalde dispatches several of the officers, but one of them accidentally shoots and mortally wounds Tina. Soon after, Mamuwalde attacks and kills Nancy in her nearby home, and destroys the photo of Tina and Mamuwalde she just developed, which shows Mamuwalde conspicuously absent. There are 66 blacula for sale on Etsy, and they cost $21.17 on average. [8] Variety gave the film a positive review praising the screenplay, music and acting by William Marshall. Prince Mamuwalde continues to kill and transform various people he encounters, including Nancy, a photographer at the nightclub where Dr. Thomas, Michelle and Tina celebrate Michelle's birthday, and where Mamuwalde shows up to return Tina's purse she dropped the night before. Discover something for everyone this month with some choice picks for the best movies and TV to stream in April. Most critics of Blacula agree that William Marshall's central performance as the vampire played straight and with a deep, rumbling voice - is what both anchor and elevate the film to something beyond initial expectations. At the funeral home where Bobby McCoy's body is laid, Mamuwalde spies on mourning friends Tina Williams (Vonetta McGee), her sister Michelle (Denise Nicholas), and Michelle's boyfriend, Dr. Gordon Thomas (Thalmus Rasulala), a pathologist for the Los Angeles Police Department. Blacula was a ground breaking release because it was the first Blaxploitation-Horror film. As Blacula pursues a woman who resembles his long dead wife, her brother-in-law, a pathologist, investigates the string of carnage that follows in the vampire's wake. "[9], On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 50% based on 26 reviews, with a weighted average rating of 5.3/10. The screenplay by Joan Torres, Raymond Koenig and … An ancient African prince, turned into a vampire by Dracula himself, finds himself in modern Los Angeles. A voluptuous black vigilante takes a job as a high-class prostitute in order to get revenge on the mobsters who murdered her boyfriend. It eventually grossed over a million dollars, making it one of the highest-grossing films of 1972. , Starsky and Hutch, and The Dukes of Hazzard. [1] While Blacula was in its production stages, William Marshall worked with the film producers to make sure his character had some dignity. [20], Bara no Konrei ~Mayonaka ni Kawashita Yakusoku~, The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Blacula&oldid=1015379572, Articles to be expanded from October 2016, Wikipedia articles with WorldCat-VIAF identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Emily Yancy as Nancy, the nightclub photographer, Lance Taylor Sr. as Swenson, the funeral director, This page was last edited on 1 April 2021, at 04:07. It is (US Netflix links): Costume Contest (Season 7 Episode 6) starting around 04:04. COMPUTRON 1 year ago. Thomas makes it known that the police are planning a search for the vampire's coffin before Mamuwalde and Tina make their exit. ‘Shaft’ on Independence Day: The Film That Changed History on July 4th Weekend 1971, 150 of the Best Vampire Movies Across all Genres, A History of Horror Movies: Part 1 - Dracula: Aristocrat of Blood, Blaxploitation: Through The History Of The Genre, Scariest Horror Movie With No Jump Scares, Unauthorized Remakes, Adaptations, Sequels and Cash-Ins, 6501 Yucca St, Los Angeles, California, USA. ... darryl, darryl philbin, the office, warehouse, foreman, paper company, dunder mifflin, scranton, dinkin flicka, fit, bring that booty, blacula, dracula, black, black lives matter, craig robinson. Mamuwalde precedes to follow Tina after she leaves the funeral home, but unintentionally frightens her, and Tina runs from him, dropping her purse in the process. Sort by. 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